Sanders Reviews

Outstanding tool. I'm building a cedar strip kayak and using the Ridgid 6" orbital to sand down epoxy that was used for filling holes and gaps. I've tried two other sanders -- a PC palm sander and a Grizzly angle sander, and the Ridgid is by far the best. It has a great heavy feel and I love how it revs up to speed. It removes material very quickly and the sandpaper lasts far longer than I thought it would. Dust collector is adequate. This is a great tool that I would highly recommend.

With a bunch of sanders already (belt sander, 1/3 sheet workhorse, and triangle detail sander) why would I buy this unit? Because it's perfect for working on the inside of boxes, whether you're building a new cabinet or refinishing an existing one. I'm remodeling my bathroom right now, and I needed to prep the inside of the medicine cabinet for repainting. This palm-grip sander was just the ticket to get inside and make a nice smooth surface. The square corners let me hit all the spots inside the cabinet, and the included dust bag let me work indoors without getting paint dust everywhere.

This is a random orbit sander, but unlike the usual circular models you don't need to buy special paper (though the unit does come with three pre-punched pieces to get you started). You just get standard sandpaper sheets, fold in half each way, and cut along the folds. (A tip: for longer life, put electrical tape along the backs of the short edges. The paper is more likely to tear where it's bent around to fit under the clamps, and the electrical tape gives these stress points more resilience.) Ryobi includes a punching platen in the kit, so after clamping the sandpaper on just push the sander down on the platen and you'll make holes right under the dust collection spots.

The sander also comes in a hard plastic case, so you can keep all the pieces together and transport the kit without worrying about damaging or losing anything.

I only have one minor quibble with the S650D: the on/off switches are a bit too easy to press when you're holding the sander in your palm. But that's probably a habit I can adjust with continued use.

Highly recommended.

These detail sanding sponges are ideal for cleaning up angles cut into jewelry box lids and base's. The soft sponge material really reduces the hand fatigue associated with long bouts of finish sanding. If you are like I am, and like to do all your finish sanding by hand these are the way to go. You can find them a little cheaper from companies like Harbor Freight and Klingspor's, but even at this price they are a good deal. They will last a long time if you keep them clean (I blow them off with air). Highly recommend.

I can get a better finish with these than with a pole sander. I guess that's obvious. I like to use them with a light shining across the joints to get them really smooth. As with the pole sanders, I like to use floor sanding paper with these. It cuts faster , lasts longer and stays flatter than the precut sheets and sanding screens.

Lasts longer then any other in the market today. Best price and best quality. Why pay more for other brands? Sungold is simply the best sandpaper I have ever tried!!

I hate sanding just like you, but this sander makes it a lot easier. The orbital action is excellent allowing rapid stock removal while leaving the surface very smooth. The variable speed is great for delicate jobs or tight corners. The extra long cord is also a plus. The contour attachments work well (on or off the machine) but the sleeves are pretty spendy. If you look around on the web you may find them on sale from time to time. Stock up if you do. The only other concern worth mentioning is the diamond shaped sanding pad. The hook and loop paper sticks to it so well that you need to use care when removing the paper so as not to rip the pad from its base. Overall this is the tool I use most often in my wood shop and I really like the job it does.

A must have tool for remodeling. The Fein tool is easy to use and great for doing detailed work in tight spaces.

I had been able to test market this product before purchasing one of my own and I am very impressed with this product. It is very accurate and easy to handle. Very lightweight and compact in size but packs a punch for the amount of tasks it can accomplish.

This detail sander is worth its weight in gold! I have owned one for about 3 years. The construction is rugged and feels good in your hand. The weight is behind the sanding pad which has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage allows for a great deal of pressure control on the pad, which I prefer... the down side, if you try to use this tool for an extended period of time you will feel it in your wrist and forearm. The price may seem a bit on the steep side, but this sander can almost eliminate most hand sanding (all but final finish sanding) in corners; around the base of ballisters; and other 'odd' places. It is a shame this unit is so expensive making it one of those 'add-on' tools to your inventory after you have purchased everything else. If you do a lot of woodworking and cabinetry or custom construction and millwork, get one as soon as possible; you will wonder why you waited so long. This labor-saver is one that will spoil you very, very quickly.

I have both the standard size triangular sanding pad and the narrow 'finger' pad and these have been able to meet all my sanding needs. The standard triangular pad allows you to turn the sanding sheet to a 'fresh' sanding point, very handy. I use the 'hook and loop' sanding sheets and they perform much better than the peel and stick variety. I can not speak to the use of the flush cutting attachment (I have a Bosch 1640VS electric flush cutting saw), and have never had occassion to use the scraper attachment; if I have scraping to do it is usually pulling up tile floors and I use a heat gun and broad putty knife.

Note...This tool can be very aggressive. The first time I used it, I put too much pressure on one of the sanding points and in the blink of an eye wore off the point of the sanding sheet AND the rubber covered point of the sanding pad! So go easy on your first project and get a feel for the way this tool functions on some scrap wood and plywood samples. I didn't ruin the project but I did have to replace the sanding pad. Fein has most of the more common sanding grits available in both sheet profiles.

I actually really like this router. It is smooth, powerful, light and the smooth-start and constant speed features are great. The maple handles are a fine touch. The Bosch accessories are good quality.

However, I really wonder about the switch that fills with sawdust (and is not easy to use), and the less than slick sliding base interfaces.

When my switch failed, I took it apart, cleaned out the dust, filed the contacts and sealed it up with silicon. I also added a remote switch to the router table and turn the router on and off with it. This keeps the switch from closing onto sawdust particles and burning the contacts (the router's switch is always closed this way and so nothing can get in between the contacts). Also, the big remote switch is easier to locate and turn off quickly. This has all worked very well for a long time now.

Occasional use of wax makes the bases slide around and adjust more easily. Clearly, slick material like teflon on the sliding surfaces would have been a better design.

The Bosch adjuster knob extension (see my reviews) is a cheap and big improvement.

It just seems to me that engineers would have designed a good switch and nice sliders at the outset as they did everything else right. It must be that bean counters and lawyers exerted themselves and screwed up a couple of things.

The wretched bean counters saved a buck on the switch and the sliders and that is their life. I am guessing that lawyers specified the clumsy switch location to prevent accidental turn-ons; actually it just makes it harder to turn it off and that is a much more dangerous situation.

The router is great after my modifications, but it was not sold as a do-it-yourself kit and should have been good right out of the box. Not everyone can or should take new power tools apart and modify them. Bosch designed a great product, but shipped a lesser one. Minus two stars.

Thanks Amazon for posting these reviews! When my Bosch 1617 failed to start today, a search of your web site confirmed the problem. I love the router - great height adjustment - the switch is a little awkward to find - just hate to have it fail in the middle of a kitchen cabinet project. At least I know its not the brushes!

First off, I'm a new woodworker and if the problem I encountered sounds stupid, sorry.

I love this router! It's a solid performer and easy to work with. However, one thing I discovered while using the fixed base for a router table (Rockler package 1): The screws that come with the router should not be used to attach to a plate. They're too small and over a short time, they will strip the fixed base plates screw holes as the constant pressure of putting the router plate into a table puts all pressure on the threads of the screw holes. (Replacing the fixed base can cost as much as $60.00). This is what happened to me.

I would suggest getting a router lift. If you can't, perhaps getting longer screws that fit the holes and put a nut on them. This way, as you continuously move the router plate in and out of a table, hopefully you won't strip the threads. Yes, that does mean the router would be a permament table fixture. But isn't that a good reason to buy another router?

Light, almost too light; and relatively quiet. Not as agressive as I would like, even with 60 grit. Dust collection bag still obtrusive and tends to spew extra fine dust into ones face if the unit is held at a ninety degree angle. The angular design makes for a secure fit upside down in a bench vise so one can hand feed smaller pieces for shaping. I rarely use a belt sanders and then only to hog off amounts to then use the RO sander.
Bottom line: I love Bosh anything so if I had the money I would have spent extra to get a heavier duty machine by Bosch.

Great sander. Lightweight, great if you have to one hand something or if you have to sand vertically or overhead. The tracking adjuster works like a champ. Changing belts is super fast and easy. Only complaint is the dust-bag... it seems kind of cheesy compared to how well built the rest of the sander is, but I bought a sander, not a dust collector. Made in Switzerland.

While I take pleasure in owning and using quality tools, I am not one to gush or even normally write a review. That said, I LOVE this sander. Here's why:

Well-balanced, low center of gravity. Feels right when held, don't have to make conscious effort to hold true.

Variable speed. Note: Variable, NOT multiple speed. Speed varies infinitely depending on trigger pressure, just like any variable-speed drill. Speed dial on trigger acts as speed limiter, a not-to-exceed setting. Otherwise pull fully for max set speed and back off trigger to slow in those must-be-careful spots, then pull fully again for max speed. Truly intuitive, fluid.

Light weight enough to use without effort, yet heavy enough to do its intended job. Certainly not for massive stock removal day in and day out, but perfect for frequent use my small shop and occasional light construction duty. If you need a brute, buy a brute. If you don't, don't beat yourself up with one. Treat yourself with this Bosch.

A dust collector that works. Very, very little on my mask at the end of a session of sanding. Only a light powder on the surface of the work and a coating on the sander attracted by static. No dust laden air, no immediate sweep-up. Empty the bag, blow off the sander, wipe the sanded piece. Done.

Flat top and fence attachment extend its functionality, providing a small bench top sander.

Quality Swiss-made.

Okay, so I gushed a bit. Great tools are such a pleasure to use and all too rare a treat.

First order arrived broken (plate on disc sander cracked). Broke a vertebrae getting it all loaded up and returned (had to get to a loading dock!).

Took another month for the second sander to arrive. It was missing 2 stand parts, so I had to build a separate stand. Amazon never shipped the new parts.

Sander goes together easy, works well. Powerful. Buy it at one of the many other good tool sites. My last Amazon tool purchase.

I love the Jet belt/disc sander. It is my 4th Jet tool. However, a word to the wise.....if you find the need to replace the graphite platen pad, which I recently did, give Woodworker's Supply a try. Not Jet (WMH Tool Group) Jet's price is higher, the shipping rate is ridiculous, and I am still waiting for my order. I wish that Amazon carried them!!!

I Bought this three days ago and it works great.No problems with assembly and sands hard maple without bogging the motor down at all.I keep seeing bad reviews on amazons shipping practices and the condition the merchandise is in when customers receive it.I guess I'm the only lucky one that has a retailer close by that sells woodworking machinery.I personally have never bought any machinery over the internet just for the fact that i like to inspect what i am buying before i take it home to put it to use,it sure seems that taking that approach to shopping would alleviate alot of peoples problems.I really think I see more complaints about shipping problems on the reviews on this site than actual reviews of the merchandise advertised here.